Ambidextrously Operable Firearm Receiver Assembly

Abstract

A firearm receiver assembly that includes a magazine release assembly, a bolt release assembly, a safety switch assembly, and a charging handle assembly and wherein at least one of the magazine release assembly, the bolt release assembly, the safety switch assembly, and the charging handle assembly are ambidextrously operable from each of a right hand side and a left hand side of the resultant firearm.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A firearm receiver assembly comprising:
 a lower receiver body defining a magazine cavity constructed to removably cooperate with a magazine; and 
 a magazine catch assembly that is operable from opposite lateral sides of the lower receiver body to release a magazine from the lower receiver body, the magazine catch assembly comprising:
 a base having a tang disposed at one end, the tang being configured to selectively engage a magazine to secure a magazine relative to the magazine cavity when the tang is engaged with a magazine, the base being laterally movable relative to the lower receiver body; 
 a first magazine release operator extending from an opposite end of the base across the lower receiver body, the first magazine release being operable from outside the lower receiver body and slidable relative to the lower receiver body to selectively bias the tang out of engagement with a magazine; and 
 a second magazine release operator disposed on a common side of the lower receiver body as the base and pivotably connected directly to the lower receiver body such that rotation of the second magazine release operator selectively biases the tang out of engagement with a magazine. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The firearm receiver assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first magazine release further comprises a post that extends in a lateral direction across the lower receiver body. 
     
     
       3. The firearm receiver assembly of  claim 2  wherein the second magazine release operator extends on opposite sides of the post of the first magazine release operator. 
     
     
       4. The firearm receiver assembly of  claim 2  further comprising a button secured to an end of the post that is opposite the base. 
     
     
       5. The firearm receiver assembly of  claim 4  wherein the lower receiver body further defines an opening that is shaped to slidably cooperate with the button. 
     
     
       6. The firearm receiver assembly of  claim 1  wherein the second magazine release operator further comprises a tang that overlaps a laterally inward facing side of the base. 
     
     
       7. The firearm receiver assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a bolt catch release assembly that includes a first bolt release operator that is operable from a first lateral side of the lower receiver body and a second bolt release operator that is operable from a second lateral side of the lower receiver body. 
     
     
       8. A method of forming an ambidextrously operable firearm assembly, the method comprising:
 providing a lower receiver body; 
 providing a magazine catch assembly having a first magazine release operator and a second magazine release operator that cooperates with the lower receiver body such that the magazine catch assembly is operable from opposite lateral sides of the lower receiver body to release a magazine from the lower receiver body and the first magazine release operator is slidable relative to the lower receiver body and the second magazine release operator is connected directly to the lower receiver body via a pivot; and 
 providing a bolt catch assembly having a first bolt release operator and a second bolt release operator that cooperates with the lower receiver body such that the bolt catch assembly is operable from opposite lateral sides of the lower receiver body to release the bolt. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8  further comprising connecting the first bolt release operator such that the first bolt release operator is pivotable about a first pivot axis relative to the lower receiver body and the second bolt release operator is pivotable relative to the lower receiver body about a second pivot axis that is oriented in a crossing direction relative to the first pivot axis. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8  further comprising providing an upper receiver body that removably cooperates with the lower receiver body. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 8  further comprising providing a magazine that removably cooperates with a magazine cavity defined by the lower receiver body and selectively engages a tang that is selectively movable relative to the lower receiver body via operation of one of the first magazine release operator or the second magazine release operator. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 8  further comprising operatively connecting the first bolt release operator to the second bolt release operator by a post and a circumferential pocket engagement. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 8  further comprising providing a safety switch assembly that includes a first safety switch and a second safety switch that are operable from respective opposite lateral sides of the lower receiver body. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 8  further comprising providing a firearm charging handle having a forward end configured to cooperate with a bolt of a firearm and a rearward end offset from the forward end along a longitudinal axis of the body, forming a handle section of the firearm charging handle to have a first grip portion and a second grip portion that extend in opposite lateral directions relative to the longitudinal axis of the body proximate the rearward end of the body, pivotably supporting a latch by the body proximate the handle section to selectively cooperate with a housing of the firearm, and supporting an actuator by the handle section such that the actuator is movable relative to the body in a direction aligned with the longitudinal axis of the body to manipulate interaction of the latch with the housing of the firearm. 
     
     
       15. A firearm receiver assembly comprising:
 a lower receiver that defines a magazine cavity constructed to removably cooperate with a magazine; and 
 a magazine catch assembly that is operable from opposite lateral sides of the lower receiver body to selectively release a magazine from the lower receiver body, the magazine catch assembly comprising:
 a base having a tang that is configured to selectively engage a magazine to secure a magazine relative to the magazine cavity when the tang is engaged with a magazine, the base being laterally movable relative to the lower receiver body; 
 a first magazine release operator that is connected to the base and which extends across the lower receiver body such that the first magazine release operator is operable from outside the lower receiver body and slidable relative to the lower receiver body to selectively bias the tang out of engagement with a magazine; and 
 a second magazine release operator disposed on a common side of the lower receiver body as the base and pivotably connected directly to the lower receiver such that motion of the first magazine release operator does not affect an orientation of the second magazine release operator relative to the lower receiver body during operation of the first magazine operator and such that rotation of the second magazine release operator relative to the receiver selectively biases the tang out of engagement with a magazine. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The firearm receiver assembly of  claim 15  further comprising a bolt catch assembly that extends in a lateral direction across the lower receiver body, the bolt catch assembly further comprising a first operator that includes a first portion that defines a bolt catch and a second portion that defines an actuator and a second operator associated with the receiver body that slidably cooperates with a portion of the first operator such that operation of either of the first operator or the second operator moves the bolt catch out of interference with a bolt of a firearm. 
     
     
       17. The firearm receiver assembly of  claim 16  wherein the bolt catch is biased into engagement with the bolt. 
     
     
       18. The firearm receiver assembly of  claim 16  wherein an axis of rotation of the first operator is oriented at a crossing direction relative to an axis of rotation of the second operator. 
     
     
       19. The firearm receiver assembly of  claim 18  wherein the axis of rotation of the first operator is aligned with a direction of operation of the bolt. 
     
     
       20. The firearm receiver assembly of  claim 15  further comprising a firearm charging handle having a forward end configured to cooperate with a bolt of a firearm and a rearward end offset from the forward end along a longitudinal axis of a body of the firearm charging handle, the firearm charging handle including a handle section that includes a first grip portion and a second grip portion that extend in opposite lateral directions relative to a longitudinal axis of the body proximate the rearward end of the body, a latch that is supported by the body proximate the handle section to selectively cooperate with a housing of the firearm, and an actuator that is supported by the handle section such that the actuator is movable relative to the body in a direction aligned with the longitudinal axis of the body to manipulate interaction of the latch with the housing of the firearm via user interaction with either of the first grip portion or the second grip portion.